Royal
Mail management has been accused of ‘provoking unofficial industrial action’ by
the Communication Workers Union who say national postal strikes are ‘pencilled
in’ for the first week in March.
John
Keggie, deputy general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said the
union is campaigning to win a 5 per cent pay rise. Royal Mail has offered 2 per
cent.
He
said industrial action options to be discussed included 24-hour strikes, an
overtime ban or a refusal to work Saturdays.
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Royal
Mail today said that an independent panel of mediators had been appointed to
assist in the pay talks. The company has offered 2 per cent on basic pay with a
further 0.5 per cent if customer quality of service standards are met in
February and March.